Yang Lianzhenjia thought for a while and said: "Master Taishi, there is only one way to deal with Qiuji according to physiognomy."
"What is it? Tell me quickly."
"That is, don't let the strong be strong enough to swallow up the weak."
Jia Sidao blurted out: "Confront the superiors."
Yang Lianzhenjia smiled slightly: "The poor monk thinks that it cannot be said to be a confrontation, but that we should fight for certain rights and interests to prevent the spread of power. For example, if we can have more contact with the Queen Mother to gain the support of the Queen Mother. Haha Mr. Taishi, a poor monk who has no knowledge of government affairs, only interpreted the meaning of Qiuji from the perspective of physiognomy. The rest is just nonsense. It cannot be taken as true. It cannot be taken as true. Considering the great wisdom of Taishi, he must have already had a good idea. Grand Master, poor monk, I would like to offer you another drink. This Chinese Imperial Liquid is really good. Although it is a little stronger, it is quite tasty."
"The Queen Mother." Jia Sidao's heart brightened. He held up his wine glass and thought to himself. The Queen Mother has always been very kind to her.
On February 1, the third year of Xianchun, there was a great meeting.
This day's court meeting was very different from previous court meetings. Next to my dragon chair, there were two more chairs. Two women. Queen Mother Xie Daoqing and Queen Quanjiu sat on my left and right respectively.
The ministers in the Daqing Palace knew very well that this was a family matter of the emperor. Honoring the title of empress dowager and canonizing the empress. For the sake of convenience, I put the two things together.
"See the Queen Mother. See Your Majesty. See Concubine Quan."
"Dear dear friends, please forgive me."
"Thank you, Your Majesty."
"Dear ladies, before the court meeting begins, I have two happy events to announce. You have all seen it. The Queen Mother and Quan Concubine are both here. The two happy events I mentioned are about the Queen Mother and Quan Concubine. Xiao Qi announced the decree. ."
"Yes, Your Majesty." Xiao Qi took a step forward and said loudly, "I present you with the Empress Dowager's treasure. Your Majesty's title is 'Shouhe'."
All the officials in the palace, led by Jia Sidao, congratulated in unison: "Congratulations on the longevity and the Queen Mother."
Xie Daoqing smiled and said: "My dear friends, no courtesy."
"Xie Shouhe, the Queen Mother."
The so-called honorific title is a title given to the emperor and empress in respect. Honorary titles began in the Qin Dynasty. They were generally used in diplomacy, etiquette, sacrifices, etc. By the Tang Dynasty, the trend of honoring the emperor with honorific titles became very popular. Some people gave them to the emperor during his lifetime. There are also those who add titles after death. There are two situations in which titles are added during lifetime: one is when the emperor abdicates, and the other is when the emperor abdicates. He becomes the Supreme Emperor, and the title is given by the succeeding emperor. The title of the emperor. There is no need to avoid the title. It can be used by everyone from princes and nobles to common people.
The honorary title is different from the posthumous title and the temple title. The posthumous title is given to the emperor after his death. The temple title is the title given to the emperor in the ancestral temple after his death. In later generations, these three titles for the emperor and empress were mostly mixed together.
Xiao Qi continued: "The longevity and empress dowager certificates are completed. In addition, twenty-seven people including Xie Yixiu and others were granted the title of Xie Tang. Each of the twenty-seven people including Xie Yixiu were promoted to the first rank. Gaoping County's wife Xie Shi and other twenty-two people were each promoted to the title of Xie Tang. There are special distinctions in the title. .The sealing list will be appended by the Ministry of Rites."
"Thank you, Queen Mother, Shouhe. Thank you, Your Majesty." Xie Yixiu knelt down on behalf of the Xie family and said thank you.
Xie Tang, nephew of Xie Daoqing, was the director of the Pingjiang Independent Commission Against Corruption Branch at that time. In history, this Xie Tang can be regarded as a person with a name. In December 1275, he was given a Jinshi origin. He was exempted from Tongzhi Privy Council affairs. .He was ordered to negotiate peace with the Yuan army. He was forced to move north. He later died in the north.
"No gift." I said with a smile. "I would also like to congratulate the Queen Mother on her birthday. Longevity. Harmony. Harmony and stability. These two words together mean that my fortune will be long and the country will be harmonious and safe. Good. It’s a sign.”
The ministers once again said in unison: "I sincerely wish my dynasty a long life, peace and prosperity for the country and the people."
"Well, Xiaoqi, continue."
Xiao Qi then declared: "Quan Concubine is dignified and virtuous. She has both political integrity and talent. She is gentle in her manners and polite in dealing with others. She has been in the palace for several years and has devoted herself to her duties. She is indeed the best choice for the master of the harem. Today, Concubine Quan Jiu is canonized as the grand master. The Empress of the Song Dynasty appreciates this."
Quan Jiu stood up, bowed slightly and said, "I would like to express my gratitude to the Queen Mother. I would like to express my gratitude to Your Majesty."
"Queen. No gift."
All the ministers in the hall once again said in unison: "See the queen. Congratulations to the queen."
Quan Jiu turned around and faced the minister. He smiled and said, "No courtesy. I would like to thank you all."
"Thank you Queen."
After the canonization ceremony, I thanked Daoqing and Quanjiu left immediately. I said, "Dear ladies, let's continue the court meeting."
Ma Guangzu, Secretary of the Ministry of Household Affairs, first reported: "Your Majesty, the tax and expenditure statistics for the second year of Xianchun have been completed. The final figures show that the total tax revenue for the year exceeded 50% of the original plan. Last year's expenditure exceeded 30% of the budget. The detailed report is today It will be sent to the palace in the afternoon. Please give your Majesty's instructions."
"Okay, Ma Aiqing. I have read all the budgets of various ministries this year. Because war may break out this year, I have decided to divide this year's budget of the Military Academy into two parts. One is regular expenditures, including ordinary military supplies. This part Expenditures will maintain the original process. The second is special expenditures. For this part of expenditures, I will ask the Military Academy to submit a special application. After my approval, the Ministry of Accounts will allocate funds. For this part of the special funds, the Ministry of Accounts only needs to record them. Its review matters I will handle it myself."
"Yes. I obey your order."
Special expenditures related to armaments mainly refer to the expenses required for the production of firearms. According to my plan, before the end of this year, I plan to produce at least two hundred artillery pieces, twenty thousand muskets, and as many projectiles as possible.
Although I had notified the Military Affairs Council years ago, ordering each military region to send a thousand troops to Lin'an to receive firearms training. However, due to the weakness of the matchlock gun, it is not as convenient as throwing bombs. If the number of thrown bombs is enough. In close combat, its effect is greater than that of muskets. Moreover, the use of throwing bombs does not have much technical content. When the enemy is still far away, first use artillery to bombard it. If you get closer, use muskets instead. The use of muskets and artillery The weakness is that it cannot annihilate the enemy from a distance like later generations. When the enemy attacks in front of you, throwing bombs can kill a large number of opponents. Although the power is far less than that of later generations, it can make up for the lack of power with dense numbers.
It's just that it costs too much money. But I can't care about this anymore. As long as the enemy can be eliminated, the money is earned slowly. Making firearms is actually burning money. But this kind of cost cannot be saved.
The cost of making firearms accounts for more than 60% of the entire military expenditure. It is also the largest expenditure for the imperial court. In order not to affect production, I also plan to reduce the profits of Shifeng Trading Company and Pu's Trading Company starting from this year. It should be filled into special military expenses. In any case, the outcome of the war should not be affected by the lack of ammunition.
After lunch, I went to Shifeng accompanied by Yuan Ji Xiaoqi. I planned to ask Xiao Tian and Pu Shougeng to learn more about the financial situation of Shifeng and Pu's Trading Company. I know that if we rely on firearms to defeat Mongolia, how much money will it cost? It must be a bottomless pit. At the same time, I informed Tian Xiuyan and Gongsun Xiaochen and asked them to go to Shifeng in the evening. I was going to talk to them and tell them what they had to do before heading to Goryeo. I also said goodbye.
Shortly after I left the palace, Jia Sidao came to Ningkun Palace to congratulate Xie Daoqing, who had just been honored as the "Queen Mother of Longevity and Harmony".
"Old minister, I see the Queen Mother. I respectfully wish the Queen Mother 'Shouhe'."
"Jia Aiqing, no courtesy. Why do you have time to see me today?"
"The Queen Mother and other veterans came to Ningkun Palace to congratulate the Queen Mother."
"My dear, you are interested. Please sit down. It's time to talk and drink tea with me."
"Yes, the Queen Mother," Jia Sidao said after sitting down. "The Queen Mother, the words longevity and harmony are very festive. It will increase my luck in the court."
Xie Daoqing smiled: "This title was chosen by the officials. Initially, there were three alternative names. The officials believed that the word 'Shouhe' has far-reaching meaning, so they decided on it."
"Your Majesty, the official family has been very different in the past two years. The old ministers are becoming more and more confused."
"Really? Taishi. You don't understand. Does this sentence mean that the official family is good or bad?"
Jia Sidao took a sip of tea and said: "It is good to return to the Queen Mother. In the past two years, our country's national strength has gradually recovered, and the people's lives have been stable and upward. If there were no Mongolia coveting from outside, the situation of our country would be as good as it is. Duanping and Zhongxing during the reign of the late emperor."
"Well, what Aiqing said is very true. I didn't like the official family at that time. I even thought that it was impossible for the official family to be a wise king who would rejuvenate the Song Dynasty. Fortunately, the late emperor had a sharp vision. I have to admire this. And there is you, Grand Master. When most of the courtiers were opposed, you stood up to everyone and insisted on putting the official on the throne. For this, I also admire the Grand Master’s vision. At the same time, I am very grateful. The palace believes that when our dynasty is revitalized, this rejuvenation official should be the first to recommend him to the Grand Master."
Jia Sidao didn't know whether what he did back then was right or wrong. He just said modestly: "The Queen Mother rewarded me. In the past year, the veteran has not made much achievements. He is far inferior to the young people in the court."
"My dear, you don't have to be self-effacing. Without your persistence, it's still uncertain whether the officials would be able to ascend to the throne. So, you must be the first minister of ZTE. The officials have also expressed this to me. Told it.”
Jia Sidao said calmly: "Really? The Queen Mother. What did the officials say?"
Xie Daoqing looked at Jia Sidao and wrote lightly: "Grand Master, the officials said that you had the merit of supporting me back then. The officials will never forget it. If it hadn't been for what happened back then, it is very likely that the officials would not be able to take the position. .There would be no such good situation as it is today. Officials are not the kind of ungrateful people who burn bridges when crossing rivers. Taishi, of course you know there is an old saying, which is called "one emperor, one courtier". To this day, Taishi is not a hundred officials. Is it the head of the official family? This is enough to show the great love the official family has for you. Grand Master. The official family treats you as a teacher and minister. Whether public or private, the grand master is an important minister in the heart of the official family. As for what the outside world says What is the struggle between the three powers? I won’t ask anything about it. The same goes for you, Grand Master. You don’t need to pay any attention to it.”